Meeting halfway: End of sit-in eases sectarian tensions in Gilgit

DC says those who defied ban on religious events will be arrested

GILGIT: Sectarian tensions in Gilgit are expected to ease after a sit-in, which lasted 10 days, came to an end on Wednesday.

The demonstration was held by Shia students and activists against the government’s decision to ban religious events at educational institutions.

The protest was also against the arrest of around two dozen activists who organized a religious event at a school in Danyor in violation of the ban.

“I can’t ask for better news in the current situation,” said Mutabiat Shah, a former lawmaker from Hunza. He said the prevailing circumstances had spread panic in the whole region.

Wednesday’s decision to end the protest was made by the Imamia Council. It was taken an hour after a group of students held Youm-e-Hussain at Karakoram International University without permission from the varsity administration.



“The demonstration has ended and the decision was taken after proper consideration,” said G-B Assembly lawmaker Rizwan Ali, who represents Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM).

“Since students marked Hussain Day, it was no longer wise to continue with the sit-in,” Ali told The Express Tribune.

“They didn’t have permission, but were also not stopped by officials. They held the event and dispersed,” said an official.

KIU Spokesman Shahid Shigri told Express Tribune that the administration had no plans to act against the students holding the event. “There is a government and it is up to its officials to take action,” he said.

The official added the KIU administration also had no intention of follow-up action.

G-B Spokesman Faizullah Faraq said it had already been decided that certain religious events would be allowed under terms of reference to be decided by the KIU administration.

Gilgit Deputy Commissioner Hamza Salick, however, said action would be taken against those who organised the event as their actions were a violation of law.

“There is a complete ban on holding religious events at educational institutions,” Salick told The Express Tribune. “The violators will be arrested and tried under the law.” He also said those who blocked KKH would be booked under the National Action Plan.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2016.